Portable suspension system for highly sensitive equipment

Abstract

A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment such as an excimer laser is disclosed. The portable cart includes a first frame support including spaced feet for supporting the equipment on a floor surface. A second frame support includes rollers for rolling movement of the equipment. The first frame support is vertically movable relative to the second frame support. Expandable/retractable shock absorbing element are positioned between the first and second frame supports. The shock absorbing elements when expanded lift the first frame support including the spaced feet above a floor surface while rollers of the second frame support to engage a floor surface for rolling shock absorbing movement of the equipment. The expandable/retractable shock absorbing elements when retracted lower the first frame support to cause the spaced feet to engage a floor surface for fixed support of the highly sensitive equipment on a floor surface. In order to transport the portable cart in a truck van, the truck van includes floor supports on a truck van floor surface for corresponding engagement with extensive/retractable arms associated with the portable cart. Preferably, the floor supports on the truck van floor surface provide a three point engagement with the extensive/retractable arms of the portable cart.

I claim: 
     
       1. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment comprising: a first fixed frame support for fixed support of the equipment on a floor surface;   a second rolling frame support for rolling movement of the equipment on said floor surface, said second rolling frame support being movable relative to the first fixed frame support; and   a plurality inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements positioned between the first and second frame supports for lifting the first frame support off said floor surface while enabling the second frame support including rollers to provide rolling movement on said floor surface when said inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements are expanded, the first frame support being lowered for fixed support on said floor surface when said inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements are retracted for fixed support of the equipment on said floor surface.   
     
     
       2. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment, comprising: a first frame support including spaced feet for supporting the equipment on a floor surface;   a second frame support including rollers for rolling movement of the equipment;   the first frame support being vertically movable relative to the second frame support; and   a plurality of inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements positioned between the first and second frame supports, said shock absorbing elements when inflated lifting the first frame support above said floor surface while enabling the rollers of the second frame support to engage said floor surface for rolling/shock absorbing movement of the equipment, said shock absorbing elements when deflated lowering the first frame support to cause a plurality of spaced feet to engage said floor surface for fixed support of the equipment on said floor surface.   
     
     
       3. The portable cart as defined in claim 2 in which the first and second frame supports include complementary male and female elements for vertical movement of the first frame support relative to the second frame support. 
     
     
       4. The portable cart as defined in claim 3 in which the first frame support includes shaft sections slidably received within corresponding guides provided in the second frame support, for vertical motion of said shaft sections relative to said guides. 
     
     
       5. The portable cart as defined in claim 2 including user control means for activating/de-activating said inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements. 
     
     
       6. The portable cart as defined in claim 5 in which the user control means includes a user switch that energizes motor means to activate/de-activate said inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements. 
     
     
       7. The portable cart as defined in claim 2 in which the inflatable pneumatic shock absorbing elements comprise an air cushion suspension system. 
     
     
       8. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment, comprising: a first frame support including spaced feet for supporting the equipment on a floor surface;   a second frame support including rollers for rolling movement of the equipment;   the first frame support being vertically movable relative to the second frame support; and   expandable/retractable shock absorbing elements positioned between the first and second frame supports, said shock absorbing elements when expanded lifting the first frame support including spaced feet above a floor surface while enabling the rollers of the second frame support to engage a floor surface for rolling/shock absorbing movement of the equipment, said shock absorbing elements when retracted lowering the first frame support to cause the spaced feet to engage a floor surface for fixed support of the equipment on a floor surface; and   extensible/retractable arms for engaging floor supports provided on a truck van floor surface to secure the portable cart in a fixed position for transport by a truck van.   
     
     
       9. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment comprising: a first frame support including spaced feet for supporting the equipment on a floor surface;   a second frame support including rollers for rolling movement of the equipment;   the first frame support being vertically movable relative to the second frame support; and expandable/retractable shock absorbing elements positioned between the first and second frame supports, said shock absorbing elements when expanded lifting the first frame support including spaced feet above a floor surface while enabling the rollers of the second frame support to engage a floor surface for rolling/shock absorbing movement of the equipment, said shock absorbing elements when retracted lowering the first frame support to cause the spaced feet to engage a floor surface for fixed support of the equipment on a floor surface, and   extensible/retractable arms for engaging floor supports provided on a truck van floor surface to secure the portable cart in a fixed position for transport by a truck van, said extensible/retractable arms include manually extensible/retractable arms.   
     
     
       10. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment, comprising: a first frame support including spaced feet for supporting the equipment on a floor surface;   a second frame support including rollers for rolling movement of the equipment;   the first frame support being vertically movable relative to the second frame support; and   expandable/retractable shock absorbing elements positioned between the first and second frame supports, said shock absorbing elements when expanded lifting the first frame support including spaced feet above a floor surface while enabling the rollers of the second frame support to engage a floor surface for rolling/shock absorbing movement of the equipment, said shock absorbing elements when retracted lowering the first frame support to cause the spaced feet to engage a floor surface for fixed support of the equipment on a floor surface; and   extensible/retractable arms for engaging floor supports provided on a truck van floor surface to secure the portable cart in a fixed position for transport by a truck van, said extensible/retractable arms include a plurality of manually extensible/retractable arms and a power activated extensible/retractable arm.   
     
     
       11. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment and for fixed mounting of the cart relative to a floor surface in a truck van comprising: three floor supports arranged in a triangular pattern and adapted for mounting on the truck van floor surface;   three extensible/retractable arms provided on the portable cart for engaging the three fixed supports when extended to secure the portable cart relative to the truck van floor surface and for disengaging the fixed supports when retracted, said extensible/retractable arms include a power activated extensible/retractable arm and manually extensible/retractable arms extending from opposite sides of the portable cart for engaging oppositely positioned floor supports adapted for mounting on the truck van floor surface.   
     
     
       12. A portable cart for transporting highly sensitive equipment and for fixed mounting of the cart relative to a floor surface in a truck van, comprising: three floor supports arranged in a triangular pattern and adapted for mounting on the truck van floor surface;   three extensible/retractable arms provided on the portable cart for engaging the three fixed supports when extended to secure the portable cart relative to the truck van floor surface and for disengaging the fixed supports when retracted, said extensible/retractable arms include a power activated extensible/retractable arm and manually extensible/retractable arms extending from opposite sides of the portable cart for engaging oppositely positioned floor supports adapted for mounting on the truck van floor surface;   said power activated extensible/retractable arm positioned within an opening of a floor support that is triangularly offset from the oppositely positioned floor supports.